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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Sixty-Seven"Free Bird"

Disclaimer: (In Greek: Google Translate)

Όλα τα αναγνωρίσιμους χαρακτήρες ανήκουν στην Τζ και συνεργάτες . Δεν παραβίαση πνευματικών δικαιωμάτων προορίζεται . All recognizable characters belong to JK Rowling and associates. No copyright infringement intended.

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Hermione tossed and turned all night. She could see clearly in her mind’s eye the moment Severus' door shut, when he would give the signal to Marf. Then all his books that he had hidden away, were brought back to his flat, to be packed away into an old handbag of Hermione's.

Severus was leaving disguised at her. She had given him everything he would need to wear on his journey from his flat to the Portkey Office at the Ministry. He would be traveling along with Draco – Polyjuiced to look like Harry – with Ginny by his side.

Ginny had ordered a Portkey, not for two for that Friday, but for three. She had told her husband, Harry, that the Portkey was at 9:00 p.m., when in actuality, the Portkey for the three of them was at 9:00 a.m. Everyone at the Ministry who knew Harry, knew he was going on holiday with his wife soon, so there would be nothing amiss with seeing Mr. and Mrs. Potter strolling across the Ministry floor. All the Aurors would be about on a wild goose chase, so no one in Harry's department would be asking why he wasn't out and about. And "Hermione" would be along looking as if she was seeing two friends off.

Severus had suggested that – were Hermione to join them – she should bring a set of her husband's clothes and some bits of him, and Severus would transform into her husband instead. It wouldn't be much bother to add an extra person to a Portkey, since three were already going. Last-minute additions to holidays were common enough so that no one would question it otherwise.

That was the plan.

Hermione laid in bed staring at the ceiling and walls. She could find no peace; not when she opened her Greek language book, nor with a cup of calming herbal tea.

As the sun broke the horizon, a panic overtook Hermione. Her heart seemed to beat irregularly, as if it had been transformed into a bird trying to take flight. Sweat broke out along her hairline. Glancing at the clock, it was 7:49 a.m.

Her resolve broke, and she bolted for the bedroom and began looking for the set of clothes Ron had left behind, forgetting to pack it when she’d kicked him out of their flat. She had meant to return the clothes, giving the set to Lavender, but she had forgotten. Or it could have been she had forgotten on purpose.

As she found shoes, socks, trousers, shirt and an old cloak, she began to look for bits of Ron to add to the Polyjuice Potion.

Frantically, with her hands shaking, she searched for anything of Ron. His hair brush was gone and so was his toothbrush. She couldn't find anything of Ron, until in the back of her medicine cabinet she discovered his razor. Carefully, on a piece of parchment she tapped the razor, and to her delight found a few whiskers still clinging to the blade that came loose. Grabbing a small vial, she deposited the whiskers in it and Floo'ed directly over to the Red Ginseng.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus had finished casting the last of the illusionment charms to make it look as if none of his books were missing. The charms would hold for at least a week or until the Aurors showed up and ended the spell, revealing that his library was gone and definitely the bibliophile Death Eater as well.

Everything was packed into the bag Hermione had provided with an Extension Charm.

He dressed in his usual white shirt, black frock coat and trousers, boots and long black winter-weight wool cloak before joining Draco for their last parole meeting.

They stopped at the Twenty-four Blackbird Bakery, Draco with his habitual croissant, Severus with his usual brioche. There would be no more chance sightings of Hermione on Friday mornings along Diagon Alley.

Their boots echoed throughout the overcast morning air. There were no flowers blooming in the flower boxes above their heads. Soon the windows and lampposts would be festooned with evergreens and boughs of pine for the upcoming Christmas season. But for now, there was nothing but empty boxes beneath windows.

Kingsley began the parole meeting in the same way he always did. Once the official business was over, the Auror checked the room for any spying devices Moody might have sneaked in. Kingsley said he had a lead as to connections Pansy's murderer might have had within the Ministry, which might explain why he was let off despite being otherwise proven guilty without a doubt, short of a confession to the crime. Draco nodded mutely in response to this latest development.

Before they ended their meeting, Severus said, "We have another 'anonymous' tip."

Leaning forward, Kingsley said, "Really? What is it?"

"We overheard a Death Eater talking about fleeing the country today. I didn't see his face, but I saw a flash of the Dark Mark on his forearm. But he said something about leaving by ferry, boat, or large ship, willing to lower himself to leave by Muggle methods."

Kingsley sat forward in his chair, his face etched with serious concern. "Did he say which port?"

"No, but he said no one would have guessed it. So it could be a big port or small. I don't know," Severus said. "Liverpool, Dover, Plymouth. Could even be a small marina in a village for all we know."

"Thank you, Severus. I'll dispatch all the Aurors to every port right now and begin looking. If this pans out like your last tip, this might certainly help pave the way for Moody to stop being so suspicious of you both," Kingsley assured them.

'Not bloody likely, even if it was true,' Severus thought derisively.

As Severus and Draco crossed through the atrium of the Ministry, Aurors were Flooing in by the dozens, including Harry Potter who ignored the two cloaked figures moving in the opposite direction.

Back at his flat, Severus checked the time and noted it was an hour until their Portkey. Ginny would be back home at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place casting the incantation. Her wedding ring would be placed upon her marriage certificate to Harry Potter; once the incantation was complete, the ring would be broken in half, like two people bound together unbound. She had already penned her letter to Potter as to why she was leaving and Molly's part in keeping her and Draco apart. She and Potter had already talked in marriage counseling about how Molly had pushed them together, much like Ron Weasley was pushed into marriage with Hermione, but with the threats directed at Ginny instead and much more subtly.

Severus began undressing, neatly folding his clothes, which would be stored in a separate pocket of Hermione's cloak for easy and quick access once the Polyjuice Potion began to wear off. He glanced at the clock one more time.

The Polyjuice Potion had been completed the same day Ron Weasley returned from his trip, but this was the day Ginny had arranged for the Portkey. They had tried the Polyjuice Potion in the office space of The Siren's Secrets, resulting in Ginny transforming into a carbon copy of Draco Malfoy. Draco, the real one, was so thrilled, he swung Ginny, who now looked like him, up into a kiss. Hermione had provided her own hair, snipped into small pieces for easy inserting into the flasks and vials Severus had. Draco and Severus had several small bottles of the Polyjuice Potion. They were to wait until the last moment before adding bits of Hermione and Harry at the last minute, and then only at two vials at a time. The rest of each vial was to remain without the last ingredient, so that in haste, if they were followed quickly and identified, they could grab bits of hair from random people as they fled and transform into them if necessary to escape detection. There were even a few vials Ginny had with some hair from some random Muggle about her size, but with a badly dyed blond job, a larger nose, and a pair of thick lips.

Severus waited as long as he could in hopes that Hermione would change her mind and come. He could wait no longer. The Potions master added the small pieces of Hermione's brown hair to the vial and downed it in one go.

Watching in front of the mirror, he watched his nude form transform into Hermione's shorter and more feminine form. His hair grew out and began to spiral into her natural waves and curls, his nose shrank, breasts protruded and his penis shrank between his legs beneath a triangle-shaped patch of dark curls. Severus could have stood there all day long, but he had to go.

He began dressing, putting on a pair of pink underpants, followed by a brassiere that he had a little trouble hooking. Considering how many times he had taken one off of her and other women, it was harder to put one on. Then came the tights, which he spelled not to run, and her skirt, blouse, and shoes. Finally slipping the cloak on, he was done.

There in the mirror was a reflection of Hermione in her dingy blue navy blue cloak and dowdy blue skirt. He was glad she was finally getting rid of the unflattering outfit, along with the slightly over-washed blouse he’d hated from the first day he saw it on her. If anything, he would be less noticeable looking slightly frumpy in such garb as he entered the Ministry later.

Grabbing Hermione's bag, with his library, his favorite knives, clothes, armoire, and a few other personal items packed in it, he was ready to go.

The only thing that needed to be done was to toss all his masks into the fireplace. He saved the Casanova mask from their first meeting. Everything else was to be incinerated in the fireplace.

Marf had already given Severus a tearful goodbye and thanked him for being a kind Master, with the promise to take care of Mistress Hermione.

Grabbing the door handle, he looked back and waved his wand, ending the charm on his bed curtains which changed them from their perpetual black, back to registering various colors based on the shades of people's auras.

The bed curtains flashed and swirled in shades of pale yellow, indicating hopefulness.

The ex-Death Eater, former Hogwarts professor, spy and gigolo closed the door to his old life, now looking forward to a new one of his own choosing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione came through the Floo. She bolted out of Macnair's old flat and began to run up the stairs, two at a time, straining her legs in an attempt to reach Severus in time.

She spotted Ginny and “Harry” descending the stairs. “Harry” gave her a glare, his eyes flashing with anger behind his glasses.

Behind them stood a copy of herself, dressed in her old navy blue outfit.

Ginny and the copy of Harry Potter moved past Hermione as she stared past them at her own living reflection.

Severus walked down the stairs to face her.

"I have Ron's clothes and bits of him," she excitedly blurted out.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the one small vial containing some of Ron's old whiskers, but in her excitement, it slipped from her shaking hands.

The vial bounced against the wooden rail of the banister before cascading end over end. Neither Severus nor Hermione could reach their wands fast enough to stop the vial from falling before it hit the tiles in the lobby below with a high-pitched shattering crash, shards of glass spread all over the floor.

They could not retrieve the bits of Ron. Any attempt might mean contamination of anyone else's hair, including the odd mouse that scurried about. They couldn't risk it and it was almost time for their Portkey.

Hermione slumped onto the stairs, crying hysterically.

"I had it. I wanted to go," she wailed.

Severus bent down beside her and held her tightly. "I know," he said, her voice coming from his mouth instead of his soothing baritone.

They stood up, and Severus clasped Hermione's face in his hands that were small and calloused now. "I will see you again. I know it as well."

Hermione's eyes shone bright with tears, frustrated that Fate had chosen to keep them apart.

"I love you, Hermione. Thank you," he said and kissed her soundly.

It was strange to have a version of herself kissing her, as if something from a dream. She kissed him back knowing that underneath that bushy brown hair and soft form was the man she loved.

They broke apart and Hermione could see there were tears in her own eyes, knowing Severus was crying too. She had never seen him cry and now it was as a version of herself she finally saw it.

Severus continued down the stairs, joining Ginny and a very impatient looking version of Harry Potter.

Hermione stood there on the stairs unable to move. When she heard the Floo roar to life, she knew that he really was gone this time. There would be no more chances.

Trudging up the stairs, she opened the door to Severus' flat and sat on the settee.

Hermione had lost her sanctuary, as it was Severus who made it one for her. Now he was leaving to seek his own.

She would wait until nine o'clock before going into work. At that point, her copy would be far away and the brokenhearted witch would be alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus could almost hear the grinding of Draco's teeth as they walked across the floor in the atrium of the Ministry. Ginny walked beside Draco, holding his hand for support and to help calm him down. Severus could tell he was livid.

The Potions master walked behind the pair, having to walk much faster than he was used to; his legs – Hermione’s legs – were much shorter, and these heels made it more difficult to keep up with Draco's pace. It helped that Draco was now pretending to be Harry, which meant shorter legs for him as well. It was these small and inconsequential details that kept Severus' mind focused on the task at hand – that he was finally fleeing England, but without Hermione by his side now. Severus forced the tears to stop, knowing he could mourn later.

Seeing her run up those stairs and tell him she was coming with him made his heart soar, which made the loss of the vial all the more tragic. As that vial broke, so did Severus' heart, knowing from the look on her face that she was resigned to stay behind now.

As they approached the Portkey Office in the Department of Magical Transportation, they noticed there was a bit of a line. Looking at the signs above there were two lines: one for scheduled and one for unscheduled Portkeys. The longer line was for impromptu requests, whereas the line for the pre-booked Portkeys was very short.

Had Hermione come with them, no doubt they would have had to wait in the unscheduled Portkey line, which would have delayed their flight from England. Draco turned around and gave Severus another glare, his head nudging towards the implication of waiting to add Hermione last-minute to their itinerary.

As it was, they were going to have to make more last-minute Portkeys along the way until they reached their final destination.

Going up to the front of the line, Ginny spoke first. "Yes, I have a scheduled Portkey for three at nine o'clock."

"Names?" the witch behind the counter asked.

"Harry and Ginny Potter, and Hermione Weasley," Ginny answered.

The witch behind the counter looked at the Polyjuice version of Hermione to look back down at the ledger, then back up to regard Severus again.

"Wow, talk about timing. When Mrs. Potter booked this, I bet you had no clue your husband was going to be leaving you soon anyway," the witch volunteered, offering up her own opinion when it was not asked for, nor wanted.

Severus held his tongue. Now would not be the best time to hex someone nor lambaste them in a way that was uncharacteristic for Hermione.

"This way," said the witch. She led them to a room with a small table in the middle of it.

On the table was a table fan. The Portkey Office tended to, but not always, match items in size to the number of people who would be traveling. A large party of twenty might require a lawn mower, couch, or an automobile fender. Since it was just going to be the three of them, a table fan sufficed for them to all grab at the same time.

"You have a ten-minute window in which to activate it, otherwise you'll have to go back in the unscheduled line if you change your mind last-minute," the witch informed them. She was citing standard protocols since there were some travelers who hemmed and hawed about going away, or forgot something back at home, and missed their scheduled window.

"I'll just close the door and be back in ten. Have fun, and don't get a sunburn," the witch said as she closed the door.

All three looked at each other. The Polyjuice Potion would hold for at least three hours until they needed another dose. They had already spent an hour in their altered form. They hoped one dose would be enough to get them there.

"Ready?" Severus said, hearing Hermione's own voice.

All three reached their hands out and touched the table fan.

Severus closed his eyes as he felt the old yet familiar pull of something grabbing him behind his navel and yanking him forward into an ethereal abyss.

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A/N:

~o0o~ END of SEASON II ~o0o~

Come betas, take a bow! For this chapter, please thank JuneW and Cygnuz. And to all my betas who have worked on this since I picked this up again and started posting once more with Chapter Fifty-One: JuneW, who has been with me for years as a friend and an invaluable beta on every chapter since I started posting again; Hope, Cygnuz, Cytherea, who have made my work better with their keen eyes and raw SPAG talent; and Keladry Lupin/Rogue_Panda, another dear friend who betaed most of the chapters in the 50's who improved my work that I forgot to acknowledge in the A/N section at the time with JuneW.

Well, this really isn't so much a fanfic in clearly defined acts, but more serialized. Think of this as a season cliffhanger of a serialized story, like a TV show. Besides, this isn't following any formula when it comes to acts. If we wanted to be more traditional, we could have had Act I end when Hermione figured out who Calleo really was.

So, where did Draco, Ginny and Severus go? Will Hermione follow? Does she even know where they are going? Will Hermione and Severus ever be reunited? Who murdered Pansy? And what is it with those damn lemons?

The title for this chapter is inspired by the Lynyrd Skynyrd song lyrics, “Free Bird,” written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/free-bird-lyrics-lynyrd-skynyrd.html
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After